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Pennsylvania Invests $7.76 Million to Expand Teacher Apprenticeships

A collaborative classroom where aspiring teachers are gaining practical experience through apprenticeships.

News Summary

Pennsylvania has committed $7.76 million to expand its Certified Teacher Registered Apprenticeships Program. This initiative aims to address the significant educator shortages statewide by providing support for aspiring teachers and educational professionals seeking full certification. With a focus on high-need areas, the investment will foster customized apprenticeship programs developed by local organizations to cultivate a robust educational workforce.

Pennsylvania has announced a significant investment of $7.76 million to expand its Certified Teacher Registered Apprenticeships (CTRA) Program, responding to the pressing need for more educators within the state. This initiative aims to support aspiring teachers, paraprofessionals, and emergency-certified educators in obtaining full teacher certification while actively working in schools.

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) and the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) are collaborating in this effort to tackle the alarming teacher shortages affecting both local schools and students. With a stark 67% decline in certified teachers over the past decade, the investment seeks to create viable pathways for individuals pursuing careers in education, particularly in high-need areas.

Program Details

The CTRA program offers a blend of on-the-job training and classroom instruction, emphasizing its role in helping individuals secure sustainable careers. This approach allows participants to work in educational settings while completing necessary coursework towards their certification.

Organizations interested in receiving a portion of the grant must develop and register their own customized teacher apprenticeship programs. The expectation is that these funded initiatives will be high-quality and tailored to meet the unique educational needs of their respective communities.

Targeted Areas for Investment

The investment is specifically designed to benefit high-need urban, rural, and suburban schools, where staffing challenges are particularly pronounced. Declining numbers of teacher certification pursuits have led to significant staffing difficulties, especially in regions with high-poverty rates.

Funding Recipients

Several organizations have already been selected to receive funding through this initiative, each set to develop programs aimed at enhancing educational workforce capacity. Some key recipients include:

Capital Area Intermediate Unit 15: Awarded $600,000 to establish a teacher apprenticeship in special and elementary education, in partnership with Point Park University.
Wilson College: Granted $600,000 to assist paraprofessionals in obtaining special education degrees while working in their current capacities.
Keystone College: Receives $591,978 to create accelerated pathways for emergency-certified educators focused on PreK-12 special education.
Lancaster County Career & Technology Center: Awarded $288,396 to launch a career and technical education educator apprenticeship, also in collaboration with Point Park University.

Background and Context

The announcement regarding the expanded apprenticeship program was made in April 2023, highlighting the state’s commitment to fortifying its educator workforce. L&I Secretary Nancy A. Walker underscored the importance of innovative solutions in addressing the growing challenges faced by educational institutions across the nation, particularly in light of escalating teacher shortages.

Acting Secretary of Education Dr. Carrie Rowe has also emphasized that these investments are essential not just for improving the educator workforce but also for ensuring all learners have access to high-quality educational experiences. The entire initiative is funded through the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act’s Statewide funding, indicating a collaborative effort between federal and state education systems to address critical workforce needs.

The ongoing challenges related to teacher shortages underscore the urgency of this investment and the potential for registered apprenticeship programs to contribute to a more stable and qualified educational workforce in Pennsylvania. As the state moves forward with this initiative, it aims to establish a template for successful educational partnerships and programs that ensure the sustainability of qualified teaching professionals in schools across the state.